CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:

The 131-bed Huntington Beach Hospital is one of three facilities sold recently by Vanguard Health Systems Inc. to Prime Healthcare Services Inc. Also sold were the 141-bed La Palma Intercommunity Hospital in La Palma and the 219-bed West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim.

Huntington Beach Hospital, operating since 1967, employs about 500 workers and has more than 300 physicians on staff, according to its website. The hospital also has a 24-hour emergency care service and is a training center for paramedics on the West Coast.

Victorville-based Prime Healthcare said in a news release they intend to retain all staff. Terms of the sale weren’t disclosed.

The Aug. 16 sale of the three hospitals will allow Vanguard to focus on its core markets in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas. Vanguard owns and operates 19 hospitals and other facilities.

Memorial marker for Newland House

The Huntington Harbour Garden Club has donated a Blue Star memorial marker to the city to be displayed at the Newland House Garden. The memorial is to honor men and women who have been members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Blue Star memorial highway program is a joint effort of the Huntington Harbour Garden Club and the California State Garden Clubs. The local garden club has maintained the Newland House Garden for several years.

Looking for the county’s funniest person

Need something to laugh about? Check out Bill Word, who will be hosting the Orange County’s Funniest Person Contest at Huntington Beach’s popular watering hole Martini Blues.

The fifth annual contest is set to take place from Sept. 2 to Oct. 14. The event was put together by Word in 2002 to give local comic talent an opportunity to entertain. The contest has been broadcast on NBC and PBS. Competitors have previously been on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” “Comedy Central,” the “Tonight Show” and “Oprah.”

About 60 contestants will vie for $1,200 in prize money. For more information, visit ocfunniest.com.

Golden West College celebrates 40 years

As part of a year-long celebration, Golden West College is presenting a faculty exhibition showcasing the work of its visual and digital art instructors.

The exhibition will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 20 with an artists’ reception on Monday, Sept. 18, from 7-9 p.m.

Another exhibition slated for end of the year is “La Boquilla, Columbia,” presented by the Fine Arts Gallery. Admission is free.

For more information, visit gwc.info/40th or call Cheryl Tittle, gallery coordinator at (714) 895-8358.

Republican Women group is also 40

The Huntington Harbour Republican Women Federated celebrated its 40th anniversary with speaker Mason Weaver on Wednesday. Weaver spoke about celebrating American culture by restoring individual pride and self-worth through competition and fairness.

Weaver is the author of “It’s OK to Leave the Plantation,” “The Rope” and “Diamond in the Rough.” He also signed his books at the event.

Mason is a trainer, facilitator and consultant, well-regarded for his wit and oratorical skills.

City clerk’s office offers passport photo services

The city of Huntington Beach has begun offering passport photograph services in the city clerk’s office. The clerk’s office recently began offering passport application and processing services after being designated a U.S. Passport Acceptance facility back in March.

By offering both services in one facility, the city’s goal is to make it easier for travelers to obtain passports, which will be required of all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The initiative, which will come into full effect Jan. 1, 2008, requires that all those traveling to or from Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America have a passport or valid document at border crossings as well as by air or sea.

U.S. citizens can visit the State Department’s travel website, www.travel.state.gov, for more information or call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778. Information is also available at the city clerk’s office or by phone at (714) 374-1600.